Shipping carton



Patented May 11, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT oFrlcE SHIPHN G CARTON Burton 0. Smith, Kennett Square, Pa.

Application AApril 29, 1941, Serial No. 390,869

1 Claim.

This invention relates to the packaging of small articles such as retail or household commodities including fruits, vegetables and the like, and is particularly directed to the provision of a package or carton adapted to be made from corrugated fiber board or other generally similar relatively still sheet material and to be shipped in knockeddown or flat condition but which is easily set up by the user or dealer preparatory to packing articles in it.

The invention provides especially an improved carton particularly adapted for packaging relatively tender or soft fruits or vegetables `such as tomatoes, and insures their safe carriage without bruising or other damage in handling and shipping. The invention thus contemplates the provision of a generally rectangular carton havyingr separate compartments affording maximum protection to the contents and including a carrying handle which facilitates handling or carrying the packed carton, likewise without damage to its contents, the handle when a plurality of the packages are shipped together as in a freight car or other vehicle acting as an interlocking key element to insure correct positioning of the yseveral packages and restrain their transverse shifting in the car. Y

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a package or carton of the character mentioned which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, affords maximum convenience for handling and shipping knocked-down prior to its use as a container for other articles and which may be set up and packed with great facility, aiording, when so packed, maximum protection to the contents.

Another object is the provision of a knockdown carton which when set up and in use provides at least two compartments separated from each other by a double partition wall which substantially lessens the risk of damage to the contents through loose or improper packing and even permits safe packaging of less than a full carton of relatively easily damaged commodities which would normally be totally spoiled `if so packed in other cartons.

A further'object is to provide a box or carton of -this character comprising a carrying handle adapted to directly support the bottom of the box and thus sustain the weight of its contents with- 'out ltending to collapse its sides through the exertion of inward tension upon them When the carton is lifted by the handle.

Other objects, purposes and advantages of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear or will be understood from the following description in which reference will be had to the accompanying drawing.

In the said drawing l Fig. 1 is a plan View of one of the blanks, of which two are used in constructing that embodiment of the invention more fully illustrated in the immediately succeeding figures;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the retainer or liner utilized in this carton;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of the formed-up carton in the course of being closed, as after it has been packed; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective lview of the carton after it has been closed and made ready for shipment.

In the several iigures like characters are used to designate the same parts. Y

Referring now more particularly to the drawing,`that embodiment of the invention therein illustrated comprises three main parts, two of which are identical and formed like the blank B, which is cut from a single sheet of corrugated fiber board, heavy cardboard or generallysimilar, fairly stii material and may be scored either at the time of cutting or in a separate operation. Each blank B includes a top panel l, separated by a transverse score line 2 from a side panel 3 which is in turn dened by a score line 4 from a bottom panel 5; the opposite boundary of the panel 5 is a score line 6 which separates it from a center panel 1 and the latter carries a combined handle ap and locking tongue 8 projecting from the center of its opposite edge.

The top and bottom panels l and 5 are somewhat longer transversely than the other panels 3 and 1 of the blank, which thus have in effect notches or indentations` 9 at their ends for a purpose which will later more fully appear. Panels l and 1 are somewhat wider than panels 3 and 5 and the latter are of approximately equal Width in blanks which are to be used for forming a carton having compartments of substantially square cross-section, but'the proportions of the several panels may vary for different cartons.

Top panel I has a slot Ill adjacent its free edge extending across the blank a slightly shorter distance than ,the handle apB which projects from the other Lend of the blank, the handleilap having locking notches Il at its edges adjacent `its juncture with the panel l' and an oval hand opening I 2 conveniently positioned toV facilitate grasping the handle forA carrying the carton when it has been fully formed-up.

' The'retainer R utilized in this embodiment of the invention and shown in perspective in Fig. 2

consists of a single strip of preferably the same material as the blank B divided by suitable score lines into four generally similar panels I3-I5 inclusive; when folded and formed up with its free ends secured together by a strip of glued tape Il, staples or equivalent means, this strip denes a hollow square substantially equal in height to the width of the side wall panel 3 in the blank B, with sides substantially equal in length to this same panel.

The complete carton shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is formed in the following manner from two similar blanks B and one retainer R of the character just described: the blanks B are first bent on their score lines 6 and then placed together with their end panels 'I and handle aps 8 backtoback and extending vertically as indicated in Fig. 3, with the rest of the blanks extending upwardly beside them. Retainer R, preferably preformed at the factory and shipped folded flat along its several corner scores, is then opened out, skewed slightly and tted down over the blanks, after which the latter are also opened out. The retainer is adjusted to square shape, and its corners are simultaneously aligned with and tted into the notches 9 in panels 3 of the blanks as the bottom panels 5 flatten out in a common plane, and their ends thus receive and support the side edges of the retainer panels I4 and I6, While the remaining panels I3 and I5 of the retainer embrace the outer faces of the side walls 3 of the blanks B. The top panels I of the latter are then successively bent inwardly and downwardly on scores 2 to bring them over the top of the carton, desirably after it has been packed, the handle flaps 8 of both blanks being inserted through the slots I rst of one blank and then of the other as the panels I are brought down, so as to engage the ends of the slots I0 in the notches II when the panels are fully depressed, to hold them tightly in position and thereby form a strong, positively locked top or cover for the carton which, however, may be readily opened by reversing this operation.

This carton is eminently suitable for bulk commodities, and when it is to be used for fruits or vegetables, particularly tomatoes or the like, which require access of air, a plurality of perforations I3 may be provided in the panels I4 and I6 of the retainer to serve as ventilators, so that, while the carton is entirely and securely closed and divided into two substantially similar cells or compartments insofar as retention of the contents are concerned, spoiling of the latter through faulty or deficient ventilation is prevented.

It will be apparent from Fig. 3 that when the carton is ,being carried by the handles 8 the bottom of the carton formed by the bottom panels is supported directly from the handles through the panels 'I which also form a rigid vertical partition dividing the interior into separate compartments; moreover, the retainer R supported from the carton on the projecting ends of the bottom panels 5 rmly retains the side panels 3 in upright position against any outward bulging tendency of the contents, while the top panels I, interlocked with the handle 'and the bottom panels 5 and inter-engaging at their junctures with the partition panels "I, effectively prevent the inward collapse of the side panels 3. The ends of the top panels I moreover project outwardly far enough to cover and if necessary receive some support from the upper edges of ythe end panels of the retainer when it is seated in the notches 9 while the said retainer panels are in turn reinforced against inward collapse by the edges of the partition panels 'I which abut them from within.

It Will thus be evident that virtually no part of the carton can be normally subjected to relatively great strain either during packaging, carrying or shipment, without in turn receiving at least partial support or reinforcement from some other part, and all parts thus cooperate to protect both the carton and its contents from undue pressure, breakage or other damage under all ordinary conditions and hold the top, bottom and sides of the carton in their several properly spaced relative positions. Consequently, when a large number of like cartons are arranged in a freight car or in storage they may be piled in tiers with those in adjacent tiers offset from each other suiciently to enable each pair of cartons in a superior tier to receive between them the handle of one in the inferior tier. By packing the cartons in this way their handles are made to serve as interlocking elements to prevent their shifting in the car or other transport vehicle, and the consequent staggered relation of the portions of the boxes capable of withstanding the greatest compression loads moreover permits them to be piled to a considerably greater height without damage to either the cartons or their contents than would normally be the case. This is particularly important in the packaging of tomatoes and generally comparable relatively soft and/ or easily bruised fruits and vegetables which are shipped in large quantities as they may be packed in bulk in cartons such as just described and a large number of the packed cartons safely stored or shipped in a freight car, truck or other vehicle in a minimum of space. I have found that ,such cartons, even when constructed from ordinary corrugated fiber board, can easily support without damage to themselves or their contents, a weight of pounds or more, demonstrating that a large number of tiers of them can be piled up without risk of crushing those near the bottom of the pile.

It will be observed, however, that if desired the parts forming the handles may be folded outwardly and downwardly against the top of the carton and when they are so folded the cartons may be piled for storage or shipment without offsetting successive tiers, the handles being returned to upright position upon removal of the cartons or upon arrival at their destination. This mode of piling them will sometimes be preferred, particularly when they are packed with relatively light articles as it is then unnecessary to make use of the great compression strength of my cartons, but it will be understood the particular disposition of the handles is entirely optional aside from such considerations as these.

Consequently, while I have herein described one embodiment of the invention in considerable detail and have referred specifically to `certain modes of use and particular situations to which it has been found especially adapted, it will b e understood I do not desire to limit or conne myself thereto or thereby in any way as changes and modifications in the form, structure and arrangement of the several parts in their relationship to each other and inthe manner in which they are used will yreadily'occur -to those skilled inthe art and may be -made if desired without Vdeparting from the spirit and scope of `the invention as defined in the appended claim.l l

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

A carton of the character described consisting of an open ended exterior retainer element formfing the outer sides, front and back of a carton and having top and bottom edges, and a pair of separate and unattached interior compartment elements forming in part the top and bottom of the carton, the exterior retainer element having at least four interior and corresponding exterior walls joined together so that two of said interior walls are oppositely disposed, the said compartment elements being identical and each having a bottom and inner and outer side Walls and a top, the said outer walls of each compartment element contact and are co-extensive with and closely fit against the entire opposed inner side Walls of the retainer, the said top and bottom of each of the compartment elements being of a greater Width than the said outer Wall of each compartment, and the outer respective edges of the top and bottom of the compartment elements extend over the top and bottom edges respectively of other opposed Walls of the retainer and thereby prevent accidental displacement of either or both compartment elements when the retainer element is grasped for carrying purposes, and the said inner sides of each compartment contacting one another medially of the carton and extending through registered openings in overlapping portions of the tops of the said compartments and projecting beyond the said tops to provide carrying means for the carton.

BURTON O. SMITH. 

